Top for automobile rumble seats



Oct. 27, 1936. L. LEWIS TOP FOR AUTOMOBILE RUMBLE SEATS File d Feb. 15, 1936 INVENTOR.

LEW LEVI/l6 ATTORNEY;

Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATE OFFICE I TOP FOR AUTOMOBILE RUMBLE SEATS Lew Lewis, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Joseph Kaufman, Passaic County, N. J.

This invention relates to covers or tops for use with the rumble seats of automobiles and in particular to one which is simple in construction and can be folded into the seat opening with the seat.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a cover that will give complete protection from the elements and will effectively protect the occupants of the rumble seat against rain and Wind and at the same time be a protection against the sun. The feature of the invention is in the simplified construction which permits the top to be raised or lowered while the seat is occupied, the top being out of the way of the occupants of the seat when it is folded in non-use position. Further objects of my invention are to provide a top of the character referred to which folds with the seat, employs a novel support arm which is adjustable to open the top and is self acting in the closing movements of the top so that the top is substantially self-closing and is held to the body of the vehicle at the front edge of the top by a suitable suction or vacuum ring which keeps out rain or snow.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as illustrated in one embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing, in which; 7

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a part of a vehicle showing the rumble seat in open position and my improved top applied thereto, the folding position of the top at one stage being indicated in outline.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating the method of mounting the bow and link members on the support arm at one side of the rumble seat pit.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View showing the link and support arm arrangement as they would appear at 33 on Figure 2, the offset portions of the link arm functioning to assist in the opening of the links and bows as the support arm is drawn up,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in cross section showing the attachment of the suction or vacuum ring to the permanent top of the vehicle,

Figure 5 is a view in perspective showing thea foldable rumble seat of a type well known and Which folds into the open pit ll of the back part l2 of the car body, the seat being indicated as at I3 and being pivoted for folding movement on the pivot points I l. The foldable seat has the usual upholstered back I5 above which extends the edge l6 of the seat frame which constitutes a closure for the back of the car pit.

In fitting covers or tops to rumble seats in types with which I am familiar, the folding of the frame of the top has been into the pit in such a manner that when the seat is to be used without the top, the latter is in the way of the legs of the occupants of the seat. It is a feature of my invention to have the top fold back against the upper edge of the seat frame so that it is at all times out of the way and when not in use is completely out of the way of the occupants of the seat.

In order to mount the cover or top I provide at opposite sides of the pit l l, the brackets ll, which are slotted as at l8 and secured at their upper ends in any suitable manner as at 19 to the body of the vehicle. The lower end of the brackets are each mounted for adjustable movement along a strap frame 2|] which is secured as at 2| to the body of the vehicle. This frame 20 has spaced openings 22 in any one of which the lower ends of the slotted brackets I! may be adjustably secured by the thumb screws 23 so that the angle of inclination of said brackets I! may be varied to suit the different sizes of tops that may be necessary for different makes of cars, this adjustment adapting the breaking points of the links and bows to the folding of the seat and also to the opening of the top, in cars of various makes.

For mounting the top, use is made of a support arm or plate 24, which through the medium of the wing nut 25 is secured in the slot ill of the bracket l1. One arm 24 is provided at each side of the pit in connection with each bracket 11, and has offset steps 21 to each of which is pivoted as at 28, the lower ends of the links 29 forming part of the top frame. To the upper ends of the links 29 are connected the depending ends of the bow members so which pass through suitable sleeves 3l formed in the fabric of the canopy top 32. The rear bow is secured in any suitable manner to the back 15 of the rumble seat so that its lateral portion is fixed against the edge It. The canopy top at its rear end is fixed to the rear bow and in its adjacent portion may be curved by the use of a flexible binding agent or sewing so that when the top is open, head room is provided. In this portion 33 a sight opening is provided as required in vehicles.

The forward end of the top 32 is fastened in any manner to the permanent top of the vehicle as by attachment at 26 to a suction or vacuum strip 34 of rubber which constitutes a weather strip and is attached by its suction forming channel 35 to the top of the vehicle. The usual side curtains may be secured in the well known manner to the depending side edges of the canopy top.

The stepped construction of the arm, or plate, 224 permits the links 29 to swing past each other. In the use of a circular plate, the pivot points of the arms would be so separated that they could swing relatively to each other without interference. In opening the top the support arms 24 are drawn up to the full line position shown in Figure 1 and retained in open position by the tightening of the thumb or wing screws 25, in the brackets l'l. When the top is to be closed the wing screws are loosened and the links and bows are folded to the nested position shown in outline in Figure 1, against the edge I6. Folding of the seat to close it in the usual manner simply slides the members 24 down the slots of the brackets and the links break to permit the top to fold compactly with the seat.

The open position of the bows is limited by the usual stops 36 formed on the upper edge of each link 29 which permit breaking of the joints between the bows and the links in one direction only. In order that the closing of the top may be facilitated, the links or bows may have secured thereto the arms 37, pivoted to the links 29 for instance as at 38 and to a revolvable disc 39 which is provided with the turning handle 40 and is pivoted as at 4| to a center link. Operation of the disk will draw the arms 31 to break the joints between the links and bows and thus facilitate the folding of the top.

It is evident that I have provided a folding top particularly adapted to the rumble seats of automobiles which keeps out inclement weather, is easily stowed with the closing movement of the seat, is readily raised to position by drawing up of the bracket I! and sustained against collapse by the fastening of the bracket and arms 24. The top is made in substantially one unit which can be placed in the rumble seat pit of any make of car and adjustment of the incline of the bracket I? will adapt the top to a car of any make.

My invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown, since various changes and modifications therein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What I claim is;

l. The combination with the rumble seat of a vehicle including a well into which the seat folds when closed, of a bracket, an arm adjustable in said bracket and having relatively offset portions therein, foldable arms pivoted at one end to the steps of said arm, a top and a top supporting bow members pivoted to said arms.

2. The combination with the rumble seat of an automobile, of a top comprising a fabric covering and bow members secured in said top, the rear bow member being secured to said seat, a plurality of links pivoted to the lower ends of the bow members and secured at the lower ends for swinging movement, a support member having stepped portions to which the ends of the links are pivoted, a bracket having a slot in which one end of the support member is disposed for movement in opening and closing said top, and said bows being foldable compactly at the upper edge of the rumble seat, and said top being foldable: with the seat when the latter is closed.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a rumble seat and well into which said seat folds, of a top, a frame for the top, foldable bow and link members constituting said frame the rear bow being secured to said seat, a support, a bracket in which said support is held for sliding movement to open and close the top, and an initial folding movement of the top placing and compacting said top against the upper edge of the rumble seat, and the closing of the seat into the well also simultaneously folding the top into said well.

4. The combination with the rumble seat and well therefor, of an automobile, of a foldable top including bows and links, one of the bows being secured to the seat, means for connecting the bows and links for opening and closing movement in one direction, a support plate to which the links are secured, means for adjusting the support plate for opening and closing of the top, and means for fastening said support plate in position to sustain the top in open position.

5. The combination with the rumble seat and rumble seat well of an automobile, of brackets, means for supporting said brackets from the inner wall of said well including a perforated strap presenting openings in which one end of the bracket can be adjustably secured, a top canopy having an end secured to the rumble seat and the opposite end secured to the body of the vehicle forward of said well opening, a vacuum strip for attaching the opposite end of the canopy to said body and constituting a weather strip, and means connecting said top and said brackets including foldable links and link supports for collapsing said top along the upper edge of the rumble seat and positioning the same for folding movement with said seat.

6. The combination with the rumble seat and well of an automobile, of a canopy top, relatively foldable bows and links for supporting said top, a support arm to which the links are pivoted, a bracket for supporting said arm for sliding movement in opening and closing said top, a strap having openings therein, and means for securing one end of said bracket to any of the openings in the strap so that the angle of inclination of the bracket can be adjusted to fit the top to cars of different makes.

'7. The combination with the rumble seat and well of an automobile, of a canopy top, relatively foldable bows and links for supporting said top, a closing member on one of the links for drawing the other links whereby the break of the bows and links is facilitated, a bracket, a support arm to which the links are pivoted, said arm being arranged for sliding movement in said bracket, means for securing the arm on the bracket for holding the top open, and releasable for permitting movement of the arm for closing of the top, and said top being foldable with the seat into the well.

LEW LEWIS. 

